Lululemon Gets Downward Dog on Guidance

Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) reported its most recently quarterly earnings after markets closed on Wednesday. The company posted $0.99 in earnings per share (EPS) and $789.9 million in revenue, versus consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters that called for $1.01 in EPS and $783.56 million in revenue. The fiscal fourth quarter from last year had $0.85 in EPS and $704.28 million in revenue.

Total comparable sales, which includes store sales and direct to consumer sales, increased 8%, or by 7% on a constant dollar basis. Comparable store sales rose by 6%.

For the fiscal first quarter, the company expects to see EPS in the range of $0.25 to $0.27 and revenues in the range of $510 million to $515 million. There are consensus estimates that are forecasting $0.39 in EPS and $552.35 million in revenue.

In terms of guidance for the 2017 fiscal year, management has said that it expects EPS in the range of $2.26 to $2.36 and revenues in the range of $2.55 billion to $2.60 billion. The consensus estimates called for $2.57 in EPS and $2.62 billion in revenue.

On the books, cash and cash equivalents totaled $734.85 million at the end of the quarter, versus $501.48 million in the same period last year.

Laurent Potdevin, CEO of Lululemon, commented:

2016 marks a milestone year where our successful execution against long-term strategies returned the company to positive operating income growth for the first time in three years. These results reflect our strong brand and solid foundation now in place to drive our future performance.

He added:

Although we’ve had a slow start to 2017, our teams are passionately committed to delivering on our robust plans across product innovation, digital, North America and international as we realize our ambitious vision for the future.

Shares of Lululemon closed Wednesday up 4% at $66.30, with a consensus analyst price target of $73.81 and a 52-week trading range of $54.00 to $81.81. Following the release of the earnings report, the stock was down 16% at $55.64 in the after-hours trading session.